Accompanied by Chang He, Kou Zhong sat in the outer hall of the Ning Bi Pavilion, quietly waiting for the good news after Zhang Jieyu took the antidote.

In this aspect, because Lei Jiuzhi had obtained Lu Miaozi’s handed-down teachings, using speed to control the slow, he took the risk of completely cleaning the Fen Jing San poison from her body in just one application of the drug.

After listening to Chang He’s explanation, he began to understand that ‘Jieyu’ was not this beautiful Niangniang’s name at all, but some kind of rank of the imperial consorts. Therefore, she should not be called Jieyu Niangniang, and could only be called either Zhang Niangniang, or Jieyu Guiren [nobility/person of high rank].

Only this one aspect about appellation of the court etiquette was already enough to give Kou Zhong, this ‘ye min’ [wilderness citizen], a big headache.

The two men were hungry; they were waiting until the lights in the entire Palace City were lit before Zheng Gonggong appeared to invite Kou Zhong into the inner hall.

By this time Chang He already developed a ‘together in trials and tribulations’ feeling toward Kou Zhong; he spoke in low voice, “Be careful in all things, don’t aim to achieve the best possible result, but rather try to avoid making mistakes.”

Kou Zhong mused that as a man who had been rolling about in the Palace, Chang He was willing to give him such advice, he was showing an extraordinary comradeship, so his heart was touched. Nodding his agreement, he followed Zheng Gonggong stepping into the inner hall.

The beautiful Zhang Jieyu was still leaning limply in the couch like this morning, weak and powerless; at first glance she did not appear to make any progress. But Kou Zhong’s sharp eyes were able to detect great difference on her complexion; there was less grey, dark, terrifying color within the white of her skin. Evidently the antidote Lei Jiuzhi prescribed indeed had divine efficacy. Immediately Kou Zhong’s heart was greatly assured.

Li Yuan was sitting by Zhang Jieyu’s side; his right hand was inside her sleeve, holding her left hand firmly, not letting her go, as he lovingly looked at this doted concubine, as if he did not know that Kou Zhong was here.

The other eunuchs and palace maids were standing respectfully on both sides; the atmosphere was serene.

Kou Zhong was about to kneel down, without even looking at him, Li Yuan said, “Mo Xiansheng, please come here, other people are dismissed.”

Zheng Gonggong and the bunch of eunuchs and palace maids busily kowtowed and left. Restraining his divine qi, Kou Zhong came to Li Yuan’s side.

Only now did Li Yuan turn to look at him and spoke in amiable manner, “Mo Xiansheng is worthy to be called Divine Doctor; since she fell ill, this is the first time that after taking the medicine, Jieyu did not vomit it out and the color on her face took a turn for the better. I wonder what would the next step to control the illness be?”

Zhang Jieyu struggled to open her slender beautiful eyes, which extended toward her temples; she gave Kou Zhong a slight nod to express her gratitude.

Kou Zhong moved to the other side and sat down on the chair specifically prepared for him; he said, “May Xiaoren feel Niangniang’s pulse again?”

Li Yuan spoke in calm, relaxed manner, “Although Zhen takes up duty as the Emperor, I still have half the status of a Jianghu man. Mo Xiansheng need not stand on ceremony.”

Zhang Jieyu stretched out her lily-white hand out of the quilt. Kou Zhong quickly put three fingers on her wrist; while inwardly calling out to Laotianye for His blessings, he slowly transmitted his true qi.

Li Yuan was shaken; he said, “Mo Xiansheng’s true qi is extremely refined and pure …”

Kou Zhong knew that because Li Yuan was holding Zhang Jieyu’s left hand, his body generated reaction. Li Yuan was the master of a big Clan; he could be considered one of the top martial art masters in the world, naturally his eyesight was brilliant.

Since his true qi was going through the channels of qi and blood, flowing freely without any obstruction, Kou Zhong was even more confident that the Fen Jing San poison had been eradicated, hence his quick-wit has also returned. With solemn expression he replied, “Jiashu once said, using needle without training qi is just like having muscle without any bones; twice the effort for half the result. Therefore, Xiaoren has trained qi since childhood. Hey! Due to Xiaoren has not married yet, naturally my Tongzi Gong [lit. virgin boy power] is a bit more refined and purer. Thank you very much for Huangshang’s compliment.”

Zhang Jieyu suddenly heaved a deep sigh of relief; she spoke tenderly, “Mo Xiansheng’s family qigong is original and unique.”

After going through the experience of treating Sha Tiannan and the others’ illnesses these past few days, Kou Zhong already developed a bit of insight. Since the great expert Wei Zhengxing was not present anyway, he simply must show off a bit of Divine Doctor air. Inventing crazy nonsense, he said, “Upon inspecting the qi and blood, the cold, unhealthy influence that cause the disease is on the outside. Upon examining the depth of the meridians, the yin cold is in the inside. If we want to reconcile the outside and the inside, we must use big and small needles together. In Xiaoren’s opinion, we need no more than three days; every day use the needles one time, Niangniang will definitely recover speedily.”

By this time Li Yuan already had full confidence in him; greatly delighted, he said, “I’ll have to trouble Mo Xiansheng then!”

Disguising himself as a traveling merchant, Xu Ziling sneaked out of the city. And then just before the gate closed, he turned himself into Yue Shan, and using the census register that Hou Xibai purchased, he swaggered back into the city.

In the dim, cold winter night, with a cloak and thick robe over Xu Ziling’s head and face, unless one was familiar with Yue Shan, most people would think that he was an old man approaching his coffin.

Upon entering the city, Xu Ziling reinstated Yue Shan’s aggressiveness. Shedding off his cloak, he strode swiftly, upright and unafraid, along the Vermillion Bird Boulevard.

Three more days, then it would be the auspicious day of the beginning of spring. The bitter cold weather did not impede the crowd shopping in preparation for the New Year. Compared to Guanwai [outside the Pass], Guanzhong [the middle of the Pass, see Book 30 Chapter 5] was just like Bashu [Sichuan]: a thriving situation of peace and prosperity.

Taking the risk, Xu Ziling trooped into the Dong Lai Inn, the same hotel where Lei Jiuzhi was staying. Until this moment, those who knew Lei Jiuzhi’s relationship with the two boys were only Lin Lang and Gongliang Ji, two men. Therefore, Lei Jiuzhi was the natural and proper choice to be the bridge linking him to Kou Zhong.

Just like Lu Miaozi, Lei Jiuzhi was full